That's all Noah Foster wanted when Alexa Jackson showed up at his apartment.
After returning from a semester in Paris, Alexa is back in her hometown of Boston and looking for anything but the drama that surrounds Noah. He's intense, gifted, famous and a bastard through and through.
Alexa doesn't take life too seriously. Noah doesn't do calm and easygoing.
Their unexpected meeting sets them both on a course towards an unlikely connection. As Noah embarks on a journey to teach school teacher Alexa the ways of his dark and mysterious world, she's fighting her own demons and the memory of a stranger in Paris.
When Alexa's past suddenly becomes her present, she's forced to face the reality of whether the passionate moments she's spent in Noah's arms, in his bed, and in his life mean anything to him, or has it all been in vain?
Deborah Bladon has never read a romance hero she didn't like. Her love for romance novels began when she was old enough to board the bus, library card in hand to check out the newest Harlequin paperbacks. She's a Canadian by heart, and by passport, but you can often spot her in New York City sipping a latte and looking for inspiration for her next story. Manhattan is definitely her second home.
She cherishes her family and believes that each day is a gift for writing, for reading, and for loving.
To say this book is so bizarre it's good would kinda be an inaccurate statement....but also, kinda accurate. Are you confused? Good, me too.
Let's begin.
Alexis is newly back home to Boston from spending a few months in Paris. She had a not-so-pleasant heartbreak while there that now gives her a jaded view on love. On a favor for her friend who owns a sandwich shop, she agrees to run a delivery...only to be greeted by a naked man.
Enter Noah Foster.
Noah Foster ordered two things that night...and when he opened the door to find Alexis, let's just say his mind didn't automatically jump to "Ah, this must be my sandwich."
And here sets the tone for the baffle and intrigue of this book. Mistaken identity quickly, yet awkward and hilariously, becomes rectified but not before all kinds of lust fueled pistons start firing in Alexis' head. Because the man is still naked and she's distracted by cock. Well, who wouldn't be?!?
Noah is amused and slightly intrigued by the fact that she has no idea who he is. Also, she doesn't seem to be disgusted by the large scar on his face. He asks her to google him (literally, not figuratively...get your mind out of the gutter, we're not there yet) and she discovers that he's a very well-known photographer of the naked female form, now infamous for being a recluse.
Noah makes Alexis an offer to pose for him. He'll give her $5,000 if she poses for his next art exhibit. He doesn't photograph faces, so her anonymity would be safe. One caveat...he doesn't fuck his models. Sign the agreement, no fucking...don't sign the agreement
Well, what's a girl to do? Alexis decides to go for the money. She can just rely on her B.O.B. or a hook up with a random to hold off her lusty cravings.
Did I mention that he's STILL naked while they're talking about all of this?
In their first "session," Noah is all business. He asks Alexis to strip naked and get in position on the bed while he still has good lighting. Though a little hesitant at first, she does as she's told. Noah picks up his camera, gets naked and starts shooting. And this is where you get all squinty while reading.
Thankfully, Alexis reacts the same and asks WTF dude? He claims he takes better pictures and his art is better when he's uninhibited by clothing. Ummm, sure. Well, needless to say, dick dangling Noah starts snapping away.
In order to get the right "vibe" in his pictures, Noah starts asking Alexis personal questions regarding past relationships and her sex life. At first she scoffs, but he gets her to open up and she finds that the combination of hot and naked man and talking about sex has got her all hot and bothered. Alexis has been attracted and drawn to Noah from the beginning, but with the whole naked and talking sex setup she's having a hard time thinking straight.
Our little Alexis is no golden, virtuous flower. Nope. She likes sex. She likes men. She likes cock. And she is NOT ashamed. She knows what she wants, how she wants it and definitely WHEN she wants it. In a nutshell, I like Alexis.
Neither are able to fight their attraction and the inevitable happens. But is that it? Was this just a one time thing or could there be something more there? Alexis feels a pull, and she thinks she gets glimpses of the real Noah...but can she trust her feelings? And what happens when her life in Paris catches up to her?
I don't even know how to describe my feelings for this book.
Did I like it? Yes. Was it hot? Yes. Do I like Alexis? Yes. Do I like Noah? No clue. Kinda. Am I interested in seeing where this goes? Yes. Is the book awkward? Yes. Have I confused you? Yes. Is that my intention? Yes.
Alexa meets Noah. Not in a normal way. Nope. He opens the door naked. She stares at his cock then is mistaken for the hooker that he’s ordered. Well that is one helluva way to catch the reader’s attention.
When Noah propositions Alexa she is torn, can she really allow him to photograph her naked? Even if her face won’t appear and he’s willing to pay thousands? Well the answer to that is yes. And even though he says he won’t sleep with her if she’s his model, the lines blur as their attraction grows.
His scars has kept him indoors, but Alexa barely notices them – something that makes her more attractive to Noah, whose whole life has centered on perfection and beauty.
But things become a bit complicated when a man from her past appears and everything she thought she had with Noah turns out to be a lie.
A story of manipulation, vanity and a whole shit-ton of lies begins in this novella serial.
Crack. I knew I shouldn’t have picked this up. My goal of not buying new books until I reduced my TBR list went to complete shit when this popped up as a freebie. Now, I am stuck in this place of wanting to one-click more from this author and my whole plan is going to hell.
I am completely intrigued by the start of this story. The author completely grabs your attention as you start this. Now when you do a serial the key is giving the reader enough in the first installment to capture their attention and make them need more of the story. Mission-fucking-accomplished. I am hooked and can’t wait to see how this turns out. I have a feeling that Noah is going to be one of those assholes that has very few redeeming qualities and I can already tell I am going to love him just as hard as I’ll hate him.
With a fictional character, yes. I might have anger management problems, so what?
I know there probably is an explanation for everything, but I still don't trust Noah ONE BIT. Not yet anyway...
Deborah Bladon, you are the queen of cliffhangers!
I regret starting yet another novella series before all the books are out. But I just can't stop myself! When I see a new novella out, I feel like I have to read it right then and right there!
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE 2ND BOOK NOW? Huh? HOW?
One word: Amazing!!! Deborah Bladon never disappoints!!
This first part begins very funny and light, but than the relationship between the hero and heroine becomes more intim and hot. Alex is an almost graduated teacher who just came back from Paris with a broken heart and lost self esteem. She accepts to help her friend Sadie, owner of a restaurant, to deliever a sandwich at someones home. But she gets greeted by an exceptional image.
Noah Foster is a worldwide famous photographer, very mysterious. He has reclused himself in his apartment because of something that happened to him. He's sexy as hell...but has his flaws, I don't want to spoil that. He's an enigma!
The conclusion of this part 1 was the best part of the book...it's what made it as amazing as Pulse...that was a bomb cliffhanger. Deborah you find always the best twists and cliffhangers....love you're fantasy it's far from predictable! Can't wait for part2!!
liked Alexa. She was a woman who liked sex and used safe practices. Bout time we got a heroine who actually had NEEDS like men do.
I didn't care for the hero. It was supremely weird that he wore no clothes and that he was always sitting around touching the tip of his penis. GAG. If I visited his house, I'd be afraid to sit on any surface.
He also used the services of call girls. Now, I'm not slut shaming the industry, but I'd be a little cautious having sex with a man who was with call girls all the time. They never discussed STD's or anything. They used condoms but they don't prevent orally transferred infections.
Вообще, ничего себе так эротическая новелка, про девушку которая соглашается позировать знаменитому фотографу. И между ними прям искры полетели... и киски поскакали! :D
Герой какой та опять, страдающий почти подонок, с членом до колен и страшной тайной в прошлом. И еще шрамом на лице, который только наша героиня не замечает и это видать очень понравилось парню, так как он считал себя страшным как черт. Его "фишка" снимать моделей будучи самому в чем мать родила тоже не с проста (ну мне так кажется). Не было в нем ничего такого - души, тепла... Не люблю я таких типов.
Героиня очень раскрепощенная девица, мечтающая стать учительнице, но пока мечта в мечтах, она ловит мужиков и отжигает по полной. Мне понравилось что девушка не скрывала чего именно она хочет от героя. Хотя на мой вкус чересчур она пошловатая. Ее желание брать в рот разные незнакомые ей предметы вызывает некое .... недоумение. На языке так и вертится "Детка, не тяни все подряд в рот" xDDD Она как и главный герой опять никакая в плане... душевности. Вот не хочется ей сопереживать. Никак.
Вот как-то так.
Скинула звездочку за "разговоры" во время прелюдий. О! Терпеть не могу когда они порят чепуху о том, кто кому как и с какой силой. Так и хочется спросить "Вы это себя пытаетесь убедить что ли? Меньше разговоров больше дела." :D
This is review for all 3 books. I probably would’ve liked this a lot more if the hero wasn’t interested in heroine to begin with just because she looked exactly liked his lost love and if he would’ve wore pants around other women.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
O.M.F.G!!! I...I... I....*stuttering and gasping*...I am totally gob smacked by the cliffhanger! I can hear Ms. Bladon cackling away while she’s busy writing the next Vain book. At least, she better be working on the next book. Otherwise, I will be forced to hunt her down and make her complete the series asap. ;)
I am an avid reader and I have to say that this is one of the BEST cliffhangers to date. Some of the others are from her Exposed and Pulse series. I finished Vain last night at 1am and my mouth was hanging open until 2am!! I have to mention here that I don't even like cliffhangers but I like the way Ms. Bladon does them.
Enough about the bloody brilliant cliffhanger. Let’s move onto the characters.
Alexa and Noah are different from the protagonists in the Exposed and Pulse series. It truly is amazing to see how diverse Ms. Bladon’s writing is. And the beginning of the book? Hilarious and intriguing to say the least.
Alexa is the type of female protagonist I like the most. Strong, driven, and unashamed to tell a man what she wants. She is not the typical spineless female lead that you see in most NA and erotica books now. Essentially a modern woman because let’s face it, that’s what we all are now. Well, maybe not as shameless as Alexa in her “demands” but you get the general idea. Her character was a nice change from the slightly flaky one in the Exposed series.
Noah is a total mystery to say the least. He is passionate about his work and is very upfront with Alexa about his vulnerabilities...except for one particular skeleton in his closet (?). Or maybe he has more. Only time will tell. He is also hot and just as clear as Alexa in what he wants. Or is he? Yes, I’m being vague but I’m kind of clueless myself. Anyway, Noah is a true artist and it shows in some of the conversations he has with Alexa. A little bit eccentric and a perfectionist. I should know, I have some in my family. Ms. Bladon really did her research.
I loved how Ms.Bladon incorporated some of the characters from her previous books. It was nice to see how their relationships have progressed.
Ms. Bladon I cannot wait for the next Vain book to come out. You evil and brilliant genius, you. ;) I insist on giving you and your books 10 stars! Just because the option isn’t there doesn’t mean that your writing doesn't deserve it.
The Noah Foster: I knew I would like you from the moment you opened your mouth. You’re my favorite kind of alpha: commanding, mysterious, and arrogant, AND to top it all off, you have a body of a Greek god, and you’re covered in tattoos?
Seriously, who could say no to that? Not me and obviously not Alexa. She has no hope of winning her inner battle to resist this man – and I am 100% okay with that.
The undeniable chemistry between Alexa and THE Noah Foster is amazing, even palpable… I obviously knew it was coming, but this cliffhanger was shocking and yet oh so freakin’ good!
..A mysterious bad boy fools me every time but I seriously cannot wait for more Noah Foster..
Now I have the “you’re so vain” song stuck in my head – and know that this title couldn't be more fitting.
Deborah’s books are filled fate and coincidences and it works perfectly, now I just need some karma. There are some authors whose books I love, I will read their entire series and fall in love with the characters and their story, and still have no intentions of reading the rest of their books – however, this is not one of those authors..
Another thrilling series with an OMFG cliff-hanger. If you have read all the other books from Deborah some pervious characters make appearance in this new series which I always love about her books. As usual we have to wait with baited breath to find-out what happens next!
When Alexa offers to drop off a delivery for her friend, she has no idea that she would be knocking on the door of the famous recluse photographer, Noah Foster. When the same Noah Forster opens the door completely naked and mistakenly takes Alexa for something else, things become a bit more challenging. Alexa is shocked but enticed by this recluse of a man. Noah is taken aback by the smart witted Alexa and offers her contract where she can make money. Alexa can’t deny the man looks like a mythical creature with his defined body, beautiful tattoos and large appendage. However Alexa is still heartbroken over her failed romance in Paris. Could Noah Foster be just what she needs to get over this? Noah is arrogant and full of himself to a degree, but there is a secret he is keeping. Alexa wears her heart on her sleeve and makes no apology for who she is. You will feel for her, what she went through in Paris was shocking but I am sure there is more to the story. Will her past come back to bite her? Overall, this was a really enticing read, with plenty of mysteriousness, angst and suspense. Reviewed for Hot books and Sassy Girls book blog
I always go into these “serial” books a little hesitant. They’re usually so short that it has to grab my attention in the first few pages for me to really enjoy. One of those ways to grab my attention is writing in a cock that should have a book of its own. This book is one of those books that gets your attention from the beginning and at the end has you screaming for more, and quite possibly sending threats of death by cock to the author. When it starts out with a naked cocky guy and a female who has a sassy mouth and no problem staring at said cock than you know it’s going to be a story you will be thinking about 2 weeks down the road.
>After mistaking Alexa for a hooker, Noah finds himself enamored by a smart-ass beautiful girl. Both broken, it seems, they find comfort in each other which leads to an agreement. From here it pretty much goes from sexual tension to lust and then to some panty dropping sex.
I will leave you with this. If you hate cliffhangers than I would wait as this is a mother of one. The story though for being so short packs a shit load of story – character background, sex, sass and an “Oh Fuck” ending.
Vain has a major eye candy cover. That was honestly the first thing that grabbed me. Then to find the book description so enticing I thought this was a definite must read. Alexa and Nathan story is every bit of an erotica, and from the first line it was packed full of nakedness and sex. Not that this is a problem, but the reality of the story seemed to be lacking. I was not feeling the scenario followed. I did not feel this was creatively detailed story accompanied by steamy and lustful sexual content. ~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~
Holy fucking first chapter..I mean in all honesty the first sentence had me..
"You're staring at my dick."
Um yeah SOLD but as you keep reading there is more...you want to know about things, you want to dive deeper and you SO want the sexual tension to grip you by the vagina and never let go! This book was HOT, short, had great banter, a solid asshole like man, and right when you are so drawn in you lose yourself you are hit with a big fucking THE END Stalking has started for book 2..thanks T as always..but let's be honest I was sold at the cover...mmmmmmm
5+ stars! I knew I should have waited to read this series until they were all out, but her stories are so addicting!! It ends on on major cliffhanger, but it was worth every bit to get sucked into this hot and mysterious serial. I can hardly wait until later this week when the second book is out!
Not for me. Too short for actual world and character building, so it basically went directly to the sex. And the first time they actually go for the fuck itself, she INSTA comes. Hmm. No. Not a fan.
If you're in the mood for some fast sex read, I guess this is for you. I, on the other hand, like content, thank you very much.
I am loving this new series already! Noah!!!!! 😤 I love and loath this character a little although I am definitely swaying on the side of love! I cannot wait for this addictive series to unravel the full story.
I rated 4 stars despite my indecision (and some bewilderment with that cliffhanger) for the following reasons... The good outweighed the bad:
The good: Really short so good for a challenge which was why I read it now. Ended on a really mind f**king cliffhanger Lots of sexual tension... Pretty hot sex (not the best ever... But good enough) Maybe some of the bad will be sorted out in the sequels... Eg was that a Plot??? I'm not sure because this book was too short.... There were a lot of beginnings... That could develop into a plot given a chance.
The bad: The story is a bit weird... Kinda unbelievable. Eg. I know about artists and their quirks but why would a
Reread December 19, 2015. I was going to finally read the whole series since last time I only read book 1 for a challenge but I just found the reading order so I'm going to read the other books in order.... Once again I'm only reading book one of this series.
I'm now on to book 3 and I'm liking the development of the story so far.... Still some weird bits but better than the others.
This book was not meant for me. Normally, I read books that contain smut, but this one was basically all smut. I also have a strong aversion to books broken up into novella parts to get more money. I think it's a greedy tactic that rarely makes for better books, and more often takes advantage of readers and fans.
This book is pretty shallow. I don't even really want to write a quick recap because there isn't much to tell. It was short and sexy, and that's about it. It had some intrigue, but it wasn't much, in my opinion.. I would be interested to see if the author could actually write a full length novel that was a bit more deep.
this was a great read. this was a very short story, I don't mind cliff hangers as long as I get at least a 200 page story. this was my first time reading this author, she has great potential, will read more of this if the price is right for the amount of story I get. I can't help but agree with on review about how frustrating the cliff hanger and waiting for next story can be. most authors who do this write a 350 page story, then cliff hanger..
Deborah Bladon can't write anything I don't love! I've read almost all her books now (even though I didn't read them in order they still all make sense) and I have yet to read something that I haven't fallen in love with. Her characters are so lovable and her writing is superb. The chemistry between her hero and heroine is always off the charts! I am so taken with Noah and Alexa and can't wait to see how their love affair will continue with Becks back in town!
This was not a great book for me. Besides this book, I also read Pulse by the same author, and was once again unimpressed. I don't think there will be a third attempt by me to read something else by this author.
This book/novella grabbed my attention right away, I found the beginning of it just hilarious. There is something dark and mysterious about Noah, he doesn´t reveal alot about himself to Alexa. The ending...HUGE cliffhanger!!
Umm it's good but 67 pages and ends on a cliffhanger! This may be the first book I have read from this author, but seriously that's a short book what am I missing are they all this short?